Dispensing system



March 21, 1961 R. s. PLATT 2,975,627

DISPENSING SYSTEM Filed July 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LEE mf Ra l 1210120 5. P/aff 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. S. PLATT DISPENSING SYSTEM March 21, 1961 Filed July 23, 1956 Ell E .ZVIZLUT Faymofld 5. P/azf Za. b 44M discharged? thi'o ugh i the. passage ,during m'e ratio the eof, and" during rotationfifths/container Y v centrlfugai'foiceWill retain the fluid within the container, {and also fill thebtubularpassageexcepting for the in nermost end-or the-terminal portion fof' the outlet end of; the passageg At the eonclusion of rotation centrifugal force will be removed and the passage will-operate f through -syphoniactionfto: discharge the materiallin' the g United States Patent" f'ice DISPENSING SYSTEM Raymond s. Platt, Benton Harbor, Mich, assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed July 23, 1956, Ser. No. 599,590

1'3 Claims. (Cl.-68-207) The present invention relates to a dispensing system and more particularlyto a system for. automatically dispensing material at a particular stage of operation of a cyclically or automatically operating mechanism.

Hereinbelow there'is described in detail an embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with an automatic or semiautomatic washing machine such as a domestic clothes washing machine. These machines have become 'a fairly standard household appliance and their uses have been multiplied a great many times so that today they are operable and utilized not only as merely washing and rinsing machines but also 'to effect dyeing, bleaching and ,starching operations. In addition, new products for utilization in conjunction with Washing machines, such as flufiifiers for addition to the clothes and other articles Washed in the machine are on sale.

In view. of these many uses it has been found highly desirable to have means or mechanism in the washing machine to automatically add or supply the additive' into the machine. Because of the nature of most of the elements to be added into the machine in the Washing and/or rinsing fluid therein, such as a starch or'dye. or bleach or flutfifier, it is most highlydes'irable to automatically add or supply the additive during the first rinsing cycle and after the washing operation. 7

Accordingto the present invention there is provided a dispensing system which is operable toretain the fluid or other additivescontained therein during. the washing cycle and during the cycle'of extraction of, the washing i and thence after the extraction to add the fluid I tojthe-rinse water asthe rinse water is supplied into the,

' washing machine. r fThus, it is an important feature of this'invention, to

ide ,a dispensing systemoperable to'retain material therein duringoscillation andfrotation of the system and tlfe'n'ce 'to dispense thejmaterial. at-the conclusion of rotation of the system.

f'accordance principles oflith i's invention a container. is providedwith a passage at the'outer wall' therejofwith amore or, less inverted U-shaped config- I ard sFthe axis loffrotati n. tip 110 fluid or other additivejin" thefcontainer will be container therefrom. Q

; f In. the exemplary embodiment of the invention de scribed in detail hereinbelow the..-container is mounte'd on 1: theragitator yofe ari agitator typefautomatic l or! semiautooscillation.

2,975,627 Patented Mar. 21, 1961 2 matic washing machine for convenience to the operator of the machine and to provide a balanced system. This is, it should be understood, an exemplary embodiment of the invention and it should be recognized that the invention is one of general utility and is not restricted to the particular embodiment described herein. In this embodiment, however, the additive such as the bleach or dye or starch or softener or flufiifier will not be discharged from the'agitator top mounted container during agitation since the agitator will merely oscillate and will not cause the additive, such as a liquid, in the container to fill the syphon passage. During extraction, however, the agitator is rotated at a relatively high speed and centrifugal force will force the additive liquid radially outwardly to fill the syphon passage or tube. Thereafter, with the centrifugal force removed, the additive liquid will be syphoned from the container and added to the liquid such as rinse liquid being injected into the washing machine.

Thus, it is another important feature of this invention to provide a new and improved automatic dispensing system for an automatic washing machine and in combination'therewith to automatically dispense an additive material such as a liquid following-a first high speedrotation of the machine. i

From the foregoing discussion as well as the following detailed description of the present invention and embodiments thereof, numerous other features and advantages of the present invention will readily present themselves to those skilled in the art and others. These features and advantages will also become readily apparent from the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, in which each and every detail shown is fully and completely disclosed as a part hereof, in which likereference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: a j I Figure l is a fragmental partly sectional illustration of an automatic washing machine with a dispensing system therein in accordance with the principles of this invention; 7 Figure 2is a fragmental sectional view of the auto-- matic dispensing system in the washingmachine of Fig- Figur'e l showing the additive material in'the container during agitation or steady state condition;

- Figure 5 is a View like Figure 4 is a viewlike Figure 3 but-showing the addi- 'tijve material in the container during a centrifuging stage or cycle of operation; 4 j Figures 3 and 4 but showing the additive material being discharged from the container uratio and wlithlthe. inlet'end of'the. passage' within the """taine'r and"thefoutlet end of the passage. disposed ex --ternally ofthe container arid, inwardly from the inlet therein.

vided ".with a" tub 11*in' which a perforated basket 12} is mountedgfor'rotation; Within the basket IZ-there is as it would following the centrifuging cycle of Figure 4; d V

vFigure 6 is aQview like Figure 1 but illustratinganotherform of dispensing.fsystem within the principles of this invention.

Alsshownon'the drawings: g 7 ,In'the f'ragmental, illustration of Figure 1 thereis shown a portion ofan automatic washing machine as an exem-" p'lary utilization of a dispensing system embodying the principles of this'inventi'on; The washing machine which I is-partly'illustrated.;inFigure 1 is controllable for auto 'maticsequential operation to follow washing and 'ri'nsin'g cycles with centrifugal extraction cycles between the washing and rinsing cycles to fully wash and rinse. and

extraction or spin dry the clothes or other materials Toeffect these operations the iwashing machine is pro-j ure 1 and is'viewed asta'ken substantially along the line provided an agitator 13 operable to be oscillated to agitate the washing and rinsing fluids in the tub and basket to wash and rinse clothes or other materials placed within the basket. For convenience of operation of the drive transmission 14 disposed outside of the tub and having its shafts 15 extending through the tub 11 to the basket .12 and agitator 13, the agitator 13 is corotated with the basket 12 during high speed spin extraction and drying of the materials of clothes within the basket.

In the washing machine of Figure 1, there is illusrated as mounted on and secured to the top or cap 16 of the agitator 13 a dispensing arrangement 17 within the principles of this invention operable to retain additive material therein duringthe first agitation cycle and during the first centrifuging and. extraction cycle and to thereafter automatically dispense the additive material in the container into the tub and basket for a mixing with rinsing fluid etc. then added into the tub and basket after removal of the centrifugal forces and stoppage of rotation of the agitator and basket. The additive dispenser and dispensing arrangement 17 includes a substantially cylindrical container 18 having a bottom wall 19, a substantially cylindrical side wall 20 and a centrally apertured partial top wall 21. The bottom wall 19 is sloped generally downwardly progressively outwardly thereof to have its lowermost portion at the junction thereof with the side wall 20 so that shallow depth of additive material in the container 18 will flow towards the outer periphery of the bottom wall 19 for purposes hereinafter explained in detail.

In the central region of the bottom of the container 18, it is more or less inverted cup shaped for mounting on the cap 16 of the agitator 13. In this particular embodiment of the invention the container may be screwed or welded or otherwise secured onto the cap 16. This, however, is not critical to the invention inasmuch as the container may be secured coaxially with the agitator by providing the container bottom with an appropriate aperture for being secured to the agitator between the agitator 13 and the cap 16 as the cap is fixed down onto the agitator.

Within the container and against the outer wall. 20 thereof a syphontube arrangement 22 is secured thereto. The syphon tube may be formed as a separate tube and then secured to the container or the container may be formed of a double wall structure with a passage therein 1 in accordance with the principles of this invention. In either event, the passage member or tube 22 is provided with an inverted U-shaped passage within the container adjacent the outside wall 20 thereof as best seen inFigure 2. One leg 23 of the tubular passage terminates in an inlet 24 against the outer wall 20 ofthe container and adjacent to the bottom wall 19 and the junction between the bottom wall 19 and the outer wall 20.

On the other side of the bight portion 25,0f the tube and tubular passage 22, the long arm or leg 26 extends downwardly through an appropriate sealed aperture 26a in the bottomwall 19 of the container at, the junction between the bottom wall 19 and the outer wall 20. There, the longer leg extends inwardly as at 27 toward the center or center of rotation of the dispenser" 17. V In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 5, the inwardly extending portion 27 f the longer leg 26 terminates adjacent to the agitatorandagitator cap in an outlet or discharge end 28. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6, like reference numerals with the suflix a are used and it will be noted that, the tube 22a is further extended to a position within the agitator 13 and then extends downwardly to discharge within the agitator by way of an extension29. The extension 29 extends all the way to the bottom of the. agitator asat 30 and discharges outwardly through the bottom of the agitator; Thus, inthe embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through the'additiv'e from the container 18 is'discharged onto-the outside of;

the agitator, while in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 the additive is discharged into the interior of the agitator and out the bottom thereof. In both instances, however, the discharge operation is effected in the same manner as described hereinbelow in great detail.

For most convenient understanding of the operation of the dispenser of this invention herein described and illustrated, attention is invited to Figures 3, 4 and 5. In these figures the dispenser is shown on the agitator in somewhat enlarged views and respectively in three successive stages of operation. The first stage of operation is a steady state condition or during agitation of the washing fluid in the washing machine by the agitator during which the agitator is oscillated. Following the stage of Figure 3, the agitator and basket are rotated at a relatively high speed to effect an extracting operation to remove the washing fluid from the clothes by centrifugal force. After the centrifuging operation of Figure 4 the agitator returns to either a steady state or an oscillating condition as illustrated in Figure 5.

At the beginning of use of the machine, the clothes are placed into the basket about the agitator and washing fluid is admitted into the tub and basket whereupon the agitator begins to oscillate. Either before oscillation of the agitator begins or even during oscillation of the agitator the operator of the machine may supply the additive material such as a liquid, bleach or starch or dye or softener or fluflifier to the automatic dispenser by pouring the same into the container 18 through the entrance aperture 31 provided in the top 21 thereof. In Figure 3 the additive liquid is indicated generally at 32 and is shown to fill the cointainer 18 to a height no greater than the reverse bend or bight portion 25 of the tubular passage arrangement 22. Thus the liquid generally seeks its own level and attains a level 33 within the short leg 23 of the tubular passage 22 below the reverse bend 25.-

After completion of the agitation cycle of operation of the washing machine it then moves into a centrifuging cycle as explained hereinabove. During the centrifuging portion of the operation of the machine the agitator and the basket are rotated at a relatively high speed. With the agitator, the dispensing system 17 also rotates and the liquid 32 therein eventually rotates together therewith to attain a position against the outer wall 20 of the container due to the centrifugal force exerted thereagainst. In this condition of operation, the liquid fills most of the syphon tube by filling the short leg 23, the bight portion 25, the vertical portion of the long leg 26, and so much of the inwardly extending portion 27 of the long leg as is outrward from the surface line 34 of the liquid being centrifugally acted upon. The discharge end, 28 of the long leg extends inwardly beyond the surface line of the additive liquid and the liquid is retained in the tube and container .by the centrifugal force.

Upon stoppage of rotation of the mechanism or sulficient slowing down thereof to relieve the centrifugal force on the additiveliquid, the liquid begins to run out of the,

discharge end 28 or 30 of the syphon tube by a syphon action and substantiallyall of the liquid is drained from the container sincei theinletend 24 of the short leg 23 extendsalmost to the bottom of the container and the sloping walls of the bottom of the container cause the liquid to be directed toward the inlet end 2401 the syphon tube.

f From the foregoing it will be readily observed that 1. In a laundry machine of the type having an agitator container into the receptacle common vertical axis for successive, washing and. extraction.=operations, means to supply an additive to thel re'ceptacle means followingxthe first extraction operation comprising a substantially cylindrical container mounted: on the agitator substantially coaxially therewith forrotation therewith, a bottom wall on said. container, a substantially cylindrical side wall on said container, a centrally apertured top'wall on said container; and a discharge tube secured to the side wall of said' container, said tube having an-inverted U-shape with one end thereof within the container and adjacent toth'e: bottom wall at'a radially outwardly spaced portion thereo-f, and the other end of said tube terminating outside of said. container radially inwardly from the said one end and below said one end, whereby the tube is substantially filled with material from the container during rotation of the agitator by'centrifugal force and drains the material from the container into the receptacle means 'by syphon actionlfollowingsuch' rotation. i

2; In a laundry machine of the type having arr agitator and receptacle: means movable and rotatable about a common vertical axis for successive washing and extrac-' tion operations, means to supply an additive to the recep= tacle means following the first extraction'operation comprising a substantially cylindricalcontainer mounted on the agitator substantially coaxially therewith for rotation therewith, a bottom wall: onsaid container, a substantially cylindrical side 'wall-on said. container; a centrally aper= tured'top wallv onsaid container, and a dischargetube secured :to the sidewall of saidv container, said tube have ing an'inverted U-shape with one-end thereof within 'the container and adjacent to the'bottom wall at'a radially outwardly' spaced portion thereof, and theother. end of said -tube terminating outside of said containerradially inwardly from-thesaid one end and below said one: end; and said other end terminating adjacent to the agitator, whereby the tube is substantially filled with material from the containeruduring' rotation ofithe, agitator by centrifugal force and drains the material fromlthe container into the receptacle means by syphon action following such rotation.

3. In a laundrymachine ofthetype having anagitator and receptacle meansmovable and rotatable about-a common vertical axis for successive washing an'd lexitr'action operations, means to supply an additive to the receptacle means following the first extraction operation comprising a substantially cylindrical container mounted on. i the agitator substantially coaxially therewith for rotation therewith, a bottom wall on said container, a substantially cylindrical side wall on said container, a centrally apertured top wall on said container, and a discharge tube and; including: confining? means to" rotate the additivecontemporaneously therewith, and a syphon tube havingtain inlet portion near a radially outwardly spaced portion "of the bottom of said container, said syphon tube having an intermediate portionabove the level of said inlet portion tobe filled from the container. by centrifugal force during extraction andan ou'tlet: portion outside of said container at a lev'el lower than. said inlet and spaced radially inwardly thereof to empty the container into the receptacle means by'syphon action following extraction.

.5. A mechanism-operative to automatically drain. the contents of. a. container into a. receptacle "following rota tion. thereof on'as'vertical. axis comprising a receptacle, a container in saidireceptacle, said container being rotatable on the same" axisizas thereceptacle and having confining means to confine-the contents thereof during rotation, and tubular passage: means on an outer wall of the said container, said. tubular. passage means having an inverted U- shaped passage therein: with an inlet within the container adjacent to a radially outwardly spaced portion of the bottom wall. thereof and an'outlet' without said container belowtheibottomzwall'thereof and disposed radially inward- 1y from thelinlet, whereby the tubular passage'is' substantially filled with material from the container by centrifugal force and empties the container into the receptacle by syphon. action,. when itis temporarily rotated with the container.

6. A mechanisrn'to automatically drain the contents of a containerv intoxa receptacle following rotation on a vertical axis comprising a receptacle, acontain'erin said receptacle and-having a bottom wall, an outer wall and a top wallwith an: aperture in the top wall for admitting material thereinto, said container being rotatable on the axis of said receptacle, passage defining means on said outer wall, the passage in said means havingan inverted U.-sha'ped configurationwith an'inlet within the container near. the bottom wall and adjacent to the outer wall and secured to the side wall of said container, said tube having an inverted U-shape with oneend thereof within the container and adjacentto the bottom wall at a radially outwardly spaced portion thereof, and the other end of I said tube terminating outside of said container radially inwardly from the said one, end and' below said one end, i

said agitator includingmeans enclosing theot her endof said tube whereby additive is dischargedwithi'ri said agitator, whereby the ,tube'issubstantially filled with. material frompthe container during'rotation of the agitator by centrifugal forceand drains the material from the 7 means by syphon action following such rotation.

4. In a washing machine having a vertical axis receptacle means for subjecting clothes to a series of washing,

rinsing and-drying steps and wherein the machine is cycli-g j! cally operated to wash theclothes', spin extract"wa'shing fluid from the-clothes, rinse the-clothes, and spin-extract rinsing. fluid from the clothes, means to supply an additive f to the rinsing fluid automatically following washing'fand ""extraction ofjthegwashing fluid, said means including a V containermounted torotate in themachine on the vertical rotational axis thereof' duringextractionby the machine an outl'et outside of saidcontainer and inside of saidreceptaclebelow the inletand inwardly displaced therefrom.

7. In afdispensingsystem operableto retain the material to be dispensed, a receptacle disposed on a vertical axis for oscillation and rotation, a substantially cylindrical container. inhsaidreceptacle mounted for rotation on the. vertical: axis thereof; aflbottom wall in said container, a substantially cylindrical side wall on saidwcontainer; a centrally apertured top wall on said container, and a discharge tube secured to the side wall of said container, said tubehaving an inverted U shape with one end thereof within the container and adjacent to the bottom wall at a radially outwardly spaced-portion thereof and the other 8. Liquid handling apparatus rotatable on a. vertical axis and being conditioned by rotation about said axis to dispense fluidlby a syphon action, comprisnig wall means' defining a fluid-receiving chamber capable of retaining the fluidtherein during rotation, conduit means having an in- "let inside of said chamberradially outwardly of'the rota- I tion axis and an outlet outside of said chamber and a portion between the, inletand outlet above the level of the" inlet, and means for rotating said chamber about the vertical'axis, said outlet, said inlet and said portion of-saidconduit means being constructed and disposed tor'etain a sufficient amount. offluid forced from said chamber into said inlet of said conduit means to prime said conduit-"f meansupon rotation and forming a syphon passage to cause. a syphoning effect throughjsaid conduit means when ratation of said chamber issubstantially ceased.

9. A .dispenser for dispensing liquid into'an intermit-J tently rotatable verticalaxis laundry receptacle comprising .a' container to receive aichargeof liquid and having wall.

means capable of retaining the liquid during rotation of the container said container being mounted and constructed for coaxial rotation of the container and the contents thereof with the laundry receptacle, and means forming a syphon passage having an inlet inside of said container at a radially outwardly spaced bottom portion thereof and an outlet outside of said container but inside of the receptacle and spaced below said inlet, said means forming said syphon passage, said inlet and said outlet being constructed and disposed to receive and retain fluid during rotation of said container to prime the syphon passage with liquid by centrifugal force during rotation for syphon flow of liquid from the container to the receptacle after cessation of rotation of the receptacle.

10. Liquid handling apparatus conditioned upon rotation on a vertical axis to dispense fluid by a syphon action, comprising wall means defining a fluid-receiving chamber capable of retaining fluid therein during rotation thereof, conduit means having an inlet inside of said chamber and an outlet outside of said chamber, and means for rotating said conduit means and said chamber on the vertical axis, said conduit means having means intermediate said inlet and said outlet to form a syphon passage and to retain a suflicient amount of said fluid received by said conduit means at said inlet during rotation to prime said conduit means and cause a syphoning effect through said conduit means when rotation has substantially ceased.

11. A dispenser for dispensing liquid into an intermittently rotatable vertical axis laundry receptacle comprising a container having means for retaining fiuid upon rotation thereof and being mounted and constructed for coaxial rotation of the container and the contents thereof with the laundry receptacle, and means forming a syphon passage having two legs of unequal length, the shorter leg of said syphon passage having an inlet inside of said container at a radially outwardly spaced bottom portion of the container and extending upwardly to the top of the container, the longer leg of said syphon passage being connected to the shorter leg and extending domnwardly, said longer leg having an outlet discharging outside of said container and inside of said receptacle below the level of said inlet, said longer leg including means to retain liquid to prime said syphon passage with liquid by centrifugal force during rotation for syphon flow after rotation has ceased.

12. In a laundry machine, a vertical axis rotatable receptacle for receiving liquid and clothes to be laundered in successive washing and extracting operations, and a dispensing container in said receptacle and having means constructed and arranged to retain a charge of liquid while rotatable with said receptacle and having a syphon conduit means with at least two legs of unequal length opening in the container and the receptacle, respectively, through which liquid can be transferred from the container over an intermediate elevation provided by the walls of the container to a lower level in the receptacle, said syphon conduit means having its shorter leg formed with an inlet at a radially outwardly spaced bottom portion of the container, said longer leg including means to retain liquid being forced up into the shorter leg of the syphon conduit means by centrifugal force during rotation, whereupon the excess Weight in the longer leg when primed causes a syphon flow into the receptacle when rotation has substantially ceased.

13. In a laundry machine, a vertical axis receptacle for receiving liquid and clothes to be laundered in a sequence of successive washing and extracting periods, and a dispensing container in said receptacle and having means to retain liquid during rotation thereof, said container having a syphon conduit means with at least two legs of unequal length opening into the container and the receptacle, respectively, joined by a portion above the level of the inlet through which liquid can be transferred over an intermediate elevation provided by the walls of the container, said syphon conduit means having its shorter leg formed with an inlet at a radially outwardly spaced bottom portion of said container, said longer leg having means forming an outlet discharging into said receptacle at a level below said inlet and including means to retain liquid from the container forced up the shorter leg of the syphon conduit means during rotation and to cause a syphoning effect when rotation has substantially ceased.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bercaw Aug. 28, 1928 

